We often assist Realtors and their Clients with the contents of a home that is being offered for sale. There are many scenarios, and here are a few examples:
1. Selling to a buyer: Your Client wants to sell a home furnished, but does not know how much to ask the buyer to pay for the contents (used furniture, art, decorative art, etc.). The Client needs an appraisal with realistic values that will secure a sale with the buyer. The seller also needs an alternative plan, should the buyer decide not to purchase the contents, or only purchase some of the contents. We can provide values and advice on how to dispose of the property, through sale, donation, etc.
2. Donation or Sale of Property: The buyers were required to purchase the furniture to secure the sale, and would like to donate or sell the contents of the home after the closing. They would also like to reduce the amount of taxes recorded for the home, if some of the purchase price included personal property and the real estate. We can provide an appraisal for donation at minimum.
3. Equitable Distribution: Your Client is responsible for selling the home of a deceased relative, and the home’s contents need to be appraised for equitable distribution or for IRS taxable estate settlement. A plan and a schedule must be implemented to prevent delays and discouraged buyers.
4. Disposal / Staging: A Realtor has been asked to list a home that is cluttered with objects or outdated furniture that may offend potential buyers. The contents need to be removed or sold to facilitate the staging of the home.
5. Downsizing: A seller is downsizing to another home or an assisting living facility, and wants to dispose of the belongings that will not fit in the new floor plan. We can assess the contents, identify valuables, and help the seller with an action plan to dispose of unwanted property.
6. Insurance: There are three frequent scenarios where an appraisal is necessary:
a) Homeowners – Your Clients own valuable personal property that is not covered under their general homeowner’s policy, such as fine art, sculpture, designer furniture, antiques, collectibles, silver, porcelain, or jewelry. The Client needs a written appraisal to endorse their homeowner’s policy with the proper coverage.
b) Moving – The Seller is moving valuable items, and the Mover will only provide basic coverage (per pound) until a written appraisal is provided with retail replacement values for specific items.
c) Damages – A buyer’s items were damaged by a mover, and the mover has been unresponsive in responding to requests for replacement or reimbursement of those items. An appraisal is written to document damages and values for pursuing reimbursement. The professional opinion of an unbiased third party expert is credible to movers. In many cases, we have succeeded in helping the Client and mover settle.
7. Divorce: A home is being sold due to divorce, and the personal property must be sold or divided equitably. With an unbiased appraisal, the contents can be distributed, or removed, to speed up the sale of the home.
8. Donations Involving Deconstruction : The Habitat for Humanity Restore accepts used kitchens, kitchen appliances, lighting, bathroom vanities, toilets, and other things that they determine are resalable. If your Client is remodeling a newly purchased home, an appraisal for a charitable donation can be documented for IRS taxes. The Habitat store in Riviera Beach will actually deconstruct items that are pre-approved as resalable at no cost to your Client. The deconstruction provides your Client with a donation and saves the contractor fees for removal.